Mystery to me cast iron pot

oscar · July 30, 2006, 10:58:04 PM

I will take a pic of this pot and post it tomorrow. i just got my computer fixed so I can now attach photo's. Ok

I have an 8" pot, with a lid. the lid has a raised ridge in the center with a 1/4" hole so a lid lifter or hook of some sort could be placed in it to remove the lid. I would just use a pot holder with my hand. The bail is high quality with a really good gauge of steel. The castings are very nice. I work with metal castings every day so i can say that, with professional knowlege. It's good,
very good. Under side of the lid has the letters R B stamped in it with four numbers. i have no clue
who has made this pot. These are the only markings. Del? how can we post more than two pics on a post at a time? Is there a way? if so let me know. Anyway I'll send pics so you folks can see. it was 106 windy today in Lincoln so I did some work outside early AM, afternoon did nothing outside. Not normally this hot, but it is summer in the high plains and it do get hot like this from time to time.
No complaints here I hate winter.

oscar · August 02, 2006, 09:53:14 PM

Ok now I will try again to show you a picture. Of the pot

Delmonico · August 02, 2006, 10:21:52 PM

It looks to me to be what some call a stove dutch oven or just dutch oven and they use the term camp dutchoven for the kind we use.

I've seen a couple of camp dutch ovens with that kind of lid before. Harlan, the good sized blacksmith with the beard that was at Rock Creek Station has a 10 deep with that type lid.

RB would I guess be the initials of the maker, there were many at one time, the number would be the model number I would guess.

El Peludo · August 03, 2006, 05:28:00 PM

I have a couple of "iron pots" that are similar to that; we always called 'em "pots", or kettles, as opposed to "ovens", in my family; ovens have legs, and rims on the lids for coals. One of ours, a small one about eight inches, is a Lodge, and the other, about ten inches, is so crusted up on the outside, that I can't make out the markings on the bottom, and the inside of it's lid has a couple of circular ridges of "teeth", most likely for self basting of meats. We also have one like that in heavy cast aluminum.

Delmonico · August 03, 2006, 05:33:53 PM

Yes, those teeth are for self-basting.

Wishbone · August 03, 2006, 06:17:14 PM

Century brand of Dutch Ovens used that type of Lid with a Tounge sticking up with a 1/4 hole in it. I have 2 of them Century Deep ovens. A 14" & 10" one. AWS/Century DO were made by the Birmingham Stove & Range Company & Alanta Stove Works. They began casting iron products in 1889 & probably cast thier first DO in 1902. (info found in "Dutch Ovens Chronicled" by John Ragsdale) I think I read somewhere they went out of businness around 1978. Wishbone-Ks

oscar · August 03, 2006, 10:37:02 PM

Wow you guys are amazing. Yes this pot does have legs but the bottom of the pot sags down in the center so no coals can easily be placed unless you set the pot in a deep patch of coals and the coals literally hold the pot in the "cooking position. I assume this one probably hung from fire irons above the heat. What cha tink?

Delmonico · August 03, 2006, 11:14:57 PM

Seems logical to me. I don't use fire irons because I hate the fact they make the fire hard to get coals out of. Also most are the tripods, 3-4 feet long and weigh 10-20 pounds. Something like this is more versital.

One can use these also with a frying pan, coffee pot or sauce pan. You can even place them on top of an oven that has hot coals on it. They are much lighter and take up less space. One can also set lids on them to keep them off the ground.